Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• the foreland of Seynt Aldem' c.1500 RoyRoll

• S(ainct) Aldelmes Point, S(ainct) Aldelmus Point 1535–43 Leland

• Seint Aldamys 1539 LP

• St Adeym 1565 SPDom

• St. Albans Head 1826 Gre 1840 TA

• St. Aldhelm's head, now vulgarly called St. Alban's head 1861 Hutch3

Etymology

St Alban's Head or St Aldhelm's Head (SY 962752), 1811 OS, the foreland of Seynt Aldem 'c. 1500RoyRoll , S (ainct ) Aldelmes Point , S (ainct ) Aldelmus Point 1535–43 Leland, Seint Aldamys 1539 LP, St Adeym 1565SPDom , St . Albans Head 1826 Gre, 1840TA , St . Aldhelm 's head , now vulgarly called St . Alban 's head 1861 Hutch3, cf. Cliff of St . Albans and Renscombe 1840TA , the promontory on which St Aldhelm's Chapel stands, v. foll., foreland , point , hēafod , Renscombe supra . The cliff top behind St Aldhelm's Head is known locally as St Aldhelm's Plain.